Pumpkin

What is a pumpkin?

The pumpkin belongs to the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae) and originally comes from America. There are over 800 different pumpkin varieties, which differ in shape, color, size and taste. Most pumpkins are edible, but some contain bitter substances that can be poisonous. That's why you should only buy pumpkins from the supermarket or from the farm.

What varieties are there?

The best-known pumpkin varieties are Hokkaido, Butternut, Muscat pumpkin and Pâtisson. Hokkaido has an orange skin and a nutty aroma. Butternut is pear-shaped and has a lot of flesh with few seeds. Muscat pumpkin grows very large and heavy and has a green or yellow skin with ribs. Pâtisson looks like a UFO and has a white, yellow or green skin.

Pumpkin is very healthy for dogs because it contains vitamins A, C and E as well as iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese and zinc. It promotes the dog's digestion and metabolism and can help with constipation and diarrhea. It also strengthens the dog's immune system and protects it from infections.

To prepare pumpkin for dogs, it must first be washed and peeled (except Hokkaido). It can then be cut into small pieces or grated. The pumpkin can be fed raw, cooked or pureed. However, care should be taken to ensure that the pumpkin is not spiced or sugared.

The amount of pumpkin depends on the size of the dog. As a rule of thumb, around 30 percent of the daily diet should consist of fruit or vegetables. This means, for example, that a dog weighing 10 kilograms should be given about 100 grams of pumpkin a day.

Pumpkin for dogs: are there any disadvantages?

Pumpkin is a healthy and tasty vegetable for dogs, but there are a few things to bear in mind. Pumpkin is not suitable for all dogs and can cause problems in some cases.

Firstly, pumpkin can cause allergic reactions. This is rare, but if your dog shows symptoms such as itching, skin rash or breathing difficulties, you should consult a vet immediately.

On the other hand, pumpkin can also be too much of a good thing. If your dog eats too much pumpkin, he may develop stomach pain or bloating. He can also gain weight or develop a vitamin A surplus. Therefore, you should always feed the right amount of pumpkin and not use it as the sole food.

You should also pay attention to the type of pumpkin you give your dog. As already mentioned, some pumpkins are poisonous and can cause symptoms of poisoning. Other pumpkins are very hard and can injure your dog's teeth or stomach. You should therefore only buy soft and ripe pumpkins and chop them up well.